Hole and press-off detector with plurality of feelers



Oct. 9, 1951 E. voss'EN 2,570,995

HOLE AND PRESS OFF DETECTOR WITH PLURALITY OF FEELERS Filed Nov. 29, 1950 Ffg E 29 /f Maf/l2 27 Pfg i E BY ATTO R N EY i Patented ct. 9, 1951 HOLE AND PRESS-OFF DETECTOR WITH PLURAL'EY OF FEELERS Edward Vossen, Lynbrook, N. Y., assignor to Stop- Motion Devices Corp., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 29, 1950, Serial No. 198,089

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hole and press-off detectors provided with a plurality of feelers.

YThe detectors, in accordance with this invention,l'are intended for open head knitting machines having center shafts protruding below the cylinder lines and extending into the circular cloth material being knitted, It is proposed that each detector be provided with a plurality of hole feelers preferably arranged in a vertical line .and engageable against the circular cloth being knitted so as to detect holes and press offs. When a plurality of hole feelers are arranged in a vertical line a new problem presents itself because then the holefeelers extend quite a distance down the'circular `material being knitted and insaid 10W area the material being knitted is elliptical and not circular because the circular material is flattened out and feed between a pair of parallel rollers some distance beneath the cylinder line of the knitting machine. Naturally, in order to maintain a contact between the hole feelers and the vknitted cloth during the knitting operation when the cloth and feelers are turning relative to each other, it would be necessary for the feelers to move radially inwards and outwards large amounts.- It is anA object of this invention to avoid such large movements of the hole feelers.

It is further pointed out that the hole and press-off detectors may be provided with four, six, eight or any other number of the hole feelers in accordance with this invention. Each knitting' machine may be provided with a number of the new hole and press-oil detectors, for example, two, four, etc.

It is proposed to characterize the new hole and press-o detector by a support for attachment to saidcentral shaft of a knitting machine and adapted-to extend substantially radially thereof to a short distance from the cloth material being knitted. A member upon which the hole feelers are mounted should be slidably and pivotally mounted on the outer end of said support for slidingsubstantially radially of said shaft and pivoting laterally so that said member may be pivoted laterally when one of said hole feelers engages in a hole or opening in said cloth m-aterial during-*the knitting thereof.

Another and very important object of this invention resides in providing resilient means for urging said member into a normal forward position in which said hole feelers engage said cloth.

VIt is also contemplated to provide means for signalling the stopping of the knitting machine (1)V when said member is pivoted laterally, and

large distances in and out.

(2) when said feelers electrically ground to the frame of the knitting machine because of a pressoff or other reasons.

Another and important object of this invention resides in the provision of a connector eccentrically connected with the said member for simultaneously pivoting said member back to a straight position and drawing said member backwards so that it may be released for again engaging said hole feelers against said cloth material.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at reasonable cost.

Another important object of this invention resides in the provision of a cloth holding guide adjacent said feelers to straighten out the knitted cloth and eliminate the necessity of the feelers moving large distances in and out to maintain Contact with the knitted cloth during operation of the knitting machine. It is again pointed out that the tubular knitted material is pulled down from the needles between a pair of parallel rollers and consequently is not truly circular but more of an ellipse shape at the height Where the feelers engage the knitted cloth. Without the cloth holding guide the feelers would be required to move It is proposed to eliminate this objectionable motion by the use of said cloth holding guide.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a hole and press-off detector constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion of the knitting machine being schematically shown to show the relationship of the detector to the knitting machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional vie taken on the line 3-3'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isfan enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the installation of the detectors.

The hole and press-off detector 63 for an open head knitting machine having a center shaft I protruding below the cylinder line Il of a knitting machine, not illustrated, and extending into the circular cloth material I2 being knitted, in accordance with this invention, includes a support I3 for attachment to said shaft I0 and extending substantially radially thereof to a short distance from said cloth material I2. This support I3 is made from several adjustably connected sections in order that the hole feelers of the detector may be properly engaged against said circular cloth material I2. Specifically, the support I3 comprises a bracket I4 which is attached to the shaft I0, a rod I5 extending substantially radially of the shaft I0, and an outer bracket I6.

The bracket I4 is in the nature of a block having an opening I1 into which the shaft I0 extends. A set screw I8 engages through the bracket t4 and against the shaft I0 for holding the bracket I4 upon the shaft I0 in selected raised and lowered positions. An insulation tube I9 is mounted on one end of the rod I5 Aand extends into an opening in the bracket I4 and is held in a fixed position with a set screw 20. The purpose of the insulation tube I9 is to insulate the new detector from the ground of the knitting machine. The bracket I6 is attached to the rod I5 with a connector 2|. This connector 2| has ,la

a circular flange 22 formed with several arcuate slots 23 through which holding screws 24 engage. These screws 24 are threadedly mounted on the bracket I8 by which the bracket I6 may be angularly adjusted in relation to the rod I5.

The connector 2I has a hub portion 25 formed with an opening through which the rod I5 passes. A set screw 23 engages the hub portion Z5v and engages against the rod I5 for xedly connecting these parts.

A member V'21 provided with a plurality of hole feelers V28 is slidably and pivotally mounted on the outer end of said support I3 for sliding radially of said shaft IG and pivoting laterally thereto so that said member 21 will pivot laterally when one of said hole feelers 2S engages in a hole or opening in said cloth material I2 during the knitting thereof. rIhe bracket I6 of the support I3 is provided with anges 29 spaced from each other between which said member 21 is slidably mounted. The member 21 is provided with top and bottom pins 30 which slidably engage through slots 3| formed in the flanges 29 by which the member 21 is pivotal laterally, as for example indicated by the dot and dash lines 21 in Fig. l. The pins 30 and the slots 3| comprise the means by which the member 21 is slidably and pivotally mounted on the support I3.

The member 21 is associated with resilient means urging it into a normal forward position in which said hole feelers 28 engage said cloth material I2. This resilient means comprises springs `32 acting between said pins 30 and said flanges 23. The springs 32 are located outside of the flanges 29 and extend in a direction radially of the shaft IU. The springs 32 act to move the pins 33 away from the shaft I0 and in this way indirectly urge the support 21 into its normal forward position. The member 21 is provided with small projections 33 on its front end which are engaged by hooks 34 projecting from the front edge of the bracket I6. These hooks 34 and projections 33 serve to releasably hold the member 21 in its normal forward position.

, 12 of the knitting machine.

When said member 21 is pivoted laterally it will cause the operation of a means for signalling the stopping of the knitting machine. This means includes an electric switch having a contact arm 35 extending along the outer face of the bracket I6. The contact arm 35 is pivotally supported by a pintle 36 at its bottom end mounted on the bracket I5. The top end of the contact arm 35 is provided with a contact 31 which is engageable with a terminal spring 38 mounted upon an insulation member 39. This insulation member 39 is attached to the bracket I6. The terminal spring 38 must be connected to the ground of the knitting machine, said ground being schematically illustrated in Fig. 7 by reference numeral 12. The insulation member 39 is provided with another terminal spring 4U making contact with the contact arm 35. Said terminal spring 43 must be connected with the current supply lead 69 of the controller circuit of the knitting machine which forms no part of the invention and therefore is not shown here. The contact arm 35 is provided with a lateral projecting lug 4I which extends over the end of the member 21. A spring 42 is connected between the contact arm 35 and with the bracket i3 and normally tends to urge the contact arm 35 rearwards. The lug 4I engaging the member 21 holds the contact arm 35 forwards out of contact with the terminal spring 38. The bracket I3 is formed with a Vcutout 43 adjacent the lug 4I into which the lug 4I may engage when the member 21 is pivoted laterally so that the `contact arm 35 may pivot and have its contact 31 engage the terminal spring 38. The terminal spr-ings 33 and 4i) are intended to be electrically connected with the controller system of the knitting machine to operate the controller to stop the lknitting machine when the contact arm 35 engages the terminal spring 38. The controller system of the knitting machine will also stop the knitting machine when one of the feelers 28 engages through an opening or press-oir of the cloth material I2 and engages the ground current will be from supply lead 69 to terminal spring 43 to contact arm 35, the member 21 and feeler 23 to the frame of the knitting machine which is its ground.

A connector 45 is eccentrically connected with the member 21 for simultaneously pivoting said member 21 back to a substantially radial posi tion and drawing said member 21 backwardsso that it may be released for again engaging said s., hole feelers 28 against the cloth material I2.

'rearwards and simultaneously pivoted back to its straight position. The connector 45 eccentrically connects with a wheel 46 having projecting fingers which is engaged in a horizontal slot 41 in the block I4 and which is furthermore turnably mounted upon the shaft I3. This wheel 43 is provided with a stud 48 having an opening into which the connector 45 extends.` A clamp screw 49 on the stud 48 serves to clamp the connector 45 in proper position on said stud 48.

Means'is providedk for manually turning the The path of the astuces wheel 46 'to vpull the connector 45 for the purpose of resetting the member 21. This means i cludes a stud 50 mounted on the wheelf45. ``A connector I connects with the stud 50 and passes through a guide bracket 52 mounted on the bracket I4. The connector 5I extends to an outer point of the. knitting machine and then through an outer bracket 53 mounted on a stationary part of the knitting machine; The outer end of the connector 5I is provided with a knob 54'by which 'the connector 5I may be manually pulled. The vpin is of insulation material and-insulation washers 6I are mounted on the pin 46 above and below the connector 45 to prevent a short circuit from contact arm 35 to member 21 `and then .additional detector just. `referred to. VIi more than two detectors are desired for a knitting machine, the wheel 46 may be provided with an additional number of the studs 48. Of course, in

such a case the wheel 46 must have additional ngers upon which these studs 48 may be` mounted.

A cloth holding guard or guide 'is adjustably mounted upon the bracket i5. This cloth holding guide 55 is in the form of a wire having a vertical section 56 adjacent the feelers 28. The guide 55 also has side arm sections 51 which eX- tend through 'blocks 58 mounted on the-bracket I6.` These blocks 58 are provided with Set screws 59 for holding the guide 55 in selected adjusted positions. The guide 55 engages against the cloth material I2 being knitted during the relative motion of the cloth material I2 and the feelers 28 for permitting the feelers 28 to properly engage the cloth without excessive inward and outward motion of said feelers 28.

Each of the fellers 28 comprises a tube 50 which slidably engages into an opening SI formed in the member 21. The tubes 60 are held in position by screws 62. A finger 53 projects from each tube 60. These fingers 63 rare provided with inner heads 64 upon their inner ends. Plugs 65 close the inner ends of the tubes S0. Each tube 60 is provided with an expansion spring 66 which resiliently urges each nger 63 into an outward position. The knitted cloth material I2 normally extends downwards in a misformed conical fash- .ion in which horizontal sections are elliptical and not circular. However, the guide 55 straightens out the cloth I2 adjacent the feelers 28 into true cylindrical form during the relative rotation of the cloth I2 and guide 55. Because of this the feelers 28 may maintain Contact with the cloth I2 without excessive inwards and outward motion.

The hole and press-off detectors just described are schematically indicated in Fig 7 by the circles 68. These detectors 58 are connected in a current supply lead 69 which connects up with the controller system of the knitting machine, not shown. A switch 10 closes the circuit of the detectors 68 to the ground 12 of the knitting machine. However, the switch 13 may be manually opened by the operator of the knitting ma- Il il chine in order to open the circuit from th d-l tectors lia/so that the knitting. machine s, may operate even though one or more of the detectors 68 signal the stopping of the machine. This is necessary so that al hole in the knitted material I2 maybe passed after the operator has corrected the cause for the hole.

The operation of the invention may be understood from the following:

On the drawing the hole and press-off detector 68 is illustrated in its loaded position. In the event that the knittedr material I2 develops a hole, the hole will engage one or more of .the feelers 28 and the relative rotation of the cloth material I2 to the detectors 68 will pivot the member 21 into the lateral position 21 illustrated in Fig. l. This releases the lug 4I of contact arm 35 and then the spring 42 pivots the contact arm 35 so that contact 31 engages-the terminal spring 33. This closes the circuit to the controller ofy the knitting machinev which stops the knitting machine. The knitting machine Vwillalso be stopped if one of therfeelers 2B passesthrough an opening or press-'off in the material 'I2 and grounds to the frame of the knitting machine. The operator must then make the necessary adjustment or repairs that caused the hole or press-off to develop in the material I2. The operatorfmay open switch 10 so that current is not supplied to the ground 12 and then the knitting Vmachine may be operated even though a member 21 is in its lateral position 21. The knitting machine is operated until the hole passes and then the operator recloses the switch 10 and pulls the knob 54 so as to pivot the finger wheel 45. This pulls the connector 45 of each detector 58, which moves the member 21 rearwards and simultaneously pivots ,the member 21 laterally against the bracket I6. When the knob 54 is releasedfthe` springs 32 move each member 21 back to its original position in which the projections 33 again engage the hooks 34. Each hole and press-off detector is now in its original position ready to function again. K

The screws 62 may be loosened and the tubes l 60 may be adjusted inwards and outwards so as to set the feelers 28 to proper positions in relation to the contour of the knitted material I2. Similarly, the support I3 may be adjusted for assisting in properly positioning the feelers 23 in relation to the cloth I2.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a hole and press-off detector for an open head knitting machine having a center shaft protruding below the cylinder line and extending into the circular cloth material being knitted, a support for attachment to said central shaft and extending substantially radially thereof to a short distance from said cloth material, a member with hole feelers having lingers. resiliently urged against said circular cloth material, said member being slidably and pivotally mounted on the outer end of said support for sliding substantially radially of said shaft and pivoting laterally so that said member will be pivoted laterally when one of said fingers engages in a hole in said cloth vijlur'ing .the knitting thereof, a pair of spaced "-anges.:on.saidi'support, pins Yprojecting from the :sides ofsaidimembgr and engaging inslotsformed .in :said anges Aand comprising `the means by ,which `said member .is slidably .and pivotally -mounte`d onsaid support, resilient meanslurging said member into a normal forward'positionin which said hole feelers-engage saidfcloth, 'means for signalling the stoppingvof lsaid knitting 'machine'when said'. member is pivoted laterally,'and

*a connector eccentrically connected with said member for simultaneously pivoting' saidmember back to a substantially radial position and draw- "ing said meinberbaclnvards so'that it maybe released for .again `engaging Ysaid hole feelers `claim 1, including means for releasably holding said member from pivoting laterally on said support, comprising `hooks on said* support :engaging projections on said member.

5. Ahole and press-01T detector as denedin claim -1, in whichsaid means for-signallingcomprises a switch mountedl on said support and having a movable'contact arm engaged by andi'held outwards by said member, anda .contact engage- .able by said contactfarm when said contact 'arm is'released.

6. 'A holeand press-olf detector as defined in -claim 1, including` a guard adjacent said hole feel- ,ers and engaging said cloth material Vforholding `said :clothrmaterial :relatively straight adjacent said hole ifeelers, fsaidfguard being mounted Von 'saidifsuppnrt.

:7.:A=ho1ei;and'pressfoi detector as defined in :5 :claimzninzwhich said :guard is adjustably mountfe'dzomsaid support.

1:.8. fIn aholezandpress-oi detector fortan open :headdmittmgfmachine having a centerl shaftproatrndingbelowltheicylinder line andextendinginto 1n) the circular :cloth material being knitted, ysaid Scenteicshaft and-'saidrfcloth materialbeingiknitted srotatingzrelative-toaeach otherzduring the knitting ioperation, f az'support' for :attachment toisaid centralsshaft; a .plurality of hole ifeelers mounted von sai'd support Yand :engaging said cloth material, --and a fguardiadjacente'said` hole feelers, :and fenegaging saidtclothi material; for. holding isaid cloth -4material lrelatively straight adjacent said hole :feelers.duringfthezrelativeprotation 'of said guard .20 aand;nloth:material,asaid guard 'beingmounted 'on -.9. A Yhole .and;press;of detector masdeiinediin Jc-laim :8, ini whichsaid pluralityof;hole'zfeelerszare located-in avertical line,l and. in whichsaidguard ihas a vertical :section which engages said .cloth inmaterial adjacentisaidihole:ifeelers to vhold said :cloth materialrelatively straightin a vertical line adjaeentssaid holefeelers. v

EDWARD VOSSEN.

"REFERENCES '.'CITED The following references are of record-in rthe ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,785 Bouhuys Feb. 19,'11935 2,259,607 Berthold Oct.' 21,1941 2,357,712 Vossen'et al Septf5, 1944 40 2,427,406 Henning Sept. 16, 1947 

